Portrait of Madam C.J. Walker, the First Black Woman Millionaire in America

Madam C.J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove; December 23, 1867 – May 25, 1919) was an African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist. She is recorded as the first female self-made millionaire in America in the Guinness Book of World Records. Multiple sources mention that although other women (like Mary Ellen Pleasant) might haveContinue reading “Portrait of Madam C.J. Walker, the First Black Woman Millionaire in America”

Edwardian Ladies’ Outdoor Tea Party, Walton-le-Dale, ca. 1905

A summertime tea is a vintage themed event that you can enjoy recreating for all decades. The vintage tea gown’s heyday was centered in the Edwardian era (1900-1920), when white lace dresses posed beautifully against a luscious green garden. The enormous flower-covered picture hats were also perfectly suited for an outdoor tea. Starting in 1870,Continue reading “Edwardian Ladies’ Outdoor Tea Party, Walton-le-Dale, ca. 1905”

38 Amazing Photos of Celebrated Female Jazz Artists of the 1940s

William Paul Gottlieb (1917-2006) was an American photographer and newspaper columnist who is best known for his classic photographs of the leading performers of the “Golden Age” of American jazz in the 1930s and 1940s. Gottlieb’s photographs are among the best known and widely reproduced images of this era of jazz. During the course ofContinue reading “38 Amazing Photos of Celebrated Female Jazz Artists of the 1940s”

Sarah Rosetta Wakeman aka Lyons Wakeman: A Woman’s Life as a Man in the Civil War

In 1940, Jackson Doane, of Binghamton, unearthed a packet of letters, a ring and a picture in his family’s attic from Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, the older sister of Jackson’s great-grandmother. She was a family member that seemed to be little spoken about — and little known. In 1976, Jackson read those letters, discovering that theyContinue reading “Sarah Rosetta Wakeman aka Lyons Wakeman: A Woman’s Life as a Man in the Civil War”

22 Beautiful Photos of Agnetha Faltskog of ABBA Fame in the 1970s and Early 1980s

ABBA are a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group’s name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names. Widely considered one of the greatest musical groups of all time, they became one of the most commercially successful actsContinue reading “22 Beautiful Photos of Agnetha Faltskog of ABBA Fame in the 1970s and Early 1980s”

45 Beautiful Photos of Actress Mae West in the 1930s

Born 1893 in Kings County, New York, American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter, comedian, and sex symbol Mae West had her entertainment career spanned seven decades. She was known for her lighthearted, bawdy double entendres and breezy sexual independence. West was active in vaudeville and on the stage in New York City before moving to HollywoodContinue reading “45 Beautiful Photos of Actress Mae West in the 1930s”

Las Tapadas Limenas: 17 Amazing Photos Of The Hidden Women of Lima Who Veiled Everything But One Eye in the 19th Century

Images of people in typical local costume and vocations were among the standard offerings of any 19th century photographic studio. Many such themes are found in the cartes-de-visite produced in Peru during the 1860s, but by far the most important of these types was the tapada, the veiled one. The costume and manner of theContinue reading “Las Tapadas Limenas: 17 Amazing Photos Of The Hidden Women of Lima Who Veiled Everything But One Eye in the 19th Century”

32 Daguerreotypes of Mothers Posing With Their Children From the Mid-19th Century

A daguerreotype is a single reversed image, made as a direct positive onto a silvered copper plate. Its reflective surface is an easy way to tell the difference between a daguerreotype and an early photograph taken using a different technique. The image is made of a combination of silver and mercury, resting on that plate.Continue reading “32 Daguerreotypes of Mothers Posing With Their Children From the Mid-19th Century”